Question

What is a function of DNA?

Answer 1

Hint: DNA is a kind of nucleic acid and its genetic materials are made up of sugar, phosphate and nitrogenous bases and a polynucleotide chain. Deoxyribose nucleic acid is known for storing biological information.

Complete Answer:
The DNA is a kind of nucleic acid. A nucleic acid is an alkali chemical component found in a nucleus structure of a cell, it may be either RNA (ribonucleic acid) or DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Both chemical components store information, DNA is found in most of the organisms excluding some viruses which have RNA as their genetic material. Including storing the information, DNA and RNA can transfer the information also.

Fig- DNA structure.

- DNA stores the information required to develop and maintain the cell. The communication of this information from mother to daughter cells is known as vertical gene transfer and it happens through the DNA replication.
- DNA is replicated when a cell produces an identical copy of its DNA, then the cell divides, DNA copies are properly distributed to each resulting cell.
- DNA can also be enzymatically denatured and used as an origin of nucleosides and nucleotides for the cell. Contrasting other macromolecules, DNA does not perform a structural role in cells.

Note: DNA code for various proteins and regulates gene expression. The DNA produces a long chain of amino acid and it produces different kinds of proteins for different functions and structural help. Three main functions done by it; they are- replication, transcription and translation.